Losses and draws within the top half left the setting perfect for Tottenham Hotspur to get back in the top four race. Instead, Spurs once again shot themselves in the foot and continue to falter in the league, while West Ham move into the top four. Here are our player ratings from what ended up being another disappointing afternoon in league for Tottenham Hotspur who fell 2-1 to West Ham.
Bales Makes Tottenham Better
It was not so much that Erik Lamela was not good in the first half or Japhet Tanganga for that matter. However, the space on the right that was previously unoccupied by those two Spurs was something Gareth Bale was more than happy to cover in the second half. Gareth Bale did almost as much for Tottenham in league in his 45 minutes as he has done all season in the game.
Bale was able to pick up the ball freely on the right again and again, driving into the middle of the pitch. Unlike Tanguy Ndombele and Erik Lamela – who both tend to do the same thing – Bale was doing so with his head up looking to make a play. Gareth’s long cross field passes over to Son clearly created opportunities for Tottenham, Spurs were just not on enough to make something of it all.
Gareth Bale almost gave us all the moment we were looking for from him as his shot from the edge of the box at the 78th minute rattled the crossbar but no more. Ultimately, as effective as Gareth Bale was – getting the assist off the corner on Lucas Moura’s goal – it was still too little too late for Tottenham, how were abject with their possession in the first half and paid for it.
Read on for our complete ratings.
Tottenham Offensive Ratings
The Tottenham offense created chances and remarkably Spurs took the same number of shots in the first half as in the second – 10 – for 20 total attempts on the day. However, of those 20 attempts only four were on target – the same number of shots total and on target West Ham had. While Spurs did create some things individually, it was rarely something were the left hand knew what the right was doing and ultimately, Spurs failed to score the necessary goals to win.
Heung-Min Son – 6
In terms of finishing, Son had himself a terrible day – like everyone else. What Son did do well for Tottenham, particularly in the last half hour, was get the ball wide on the left and get service into the box. Including a couple corners Son had 7 crosses, but none turned into anything for Spurs. Had an almost goal by accident and had another look go well over. Moura should have scored on a cross in the first half from Son. Interesting that when Son was left alone on the left without a back behind him he had even MORE space to roam and cause havoc.
Harry Kane – 5
Harry Kane should have won the game several times over for Tottenham Hotspur. Kane took six shots and only hit the target once. Should have scored at 12 minutes after Lamela played him in, but his shot was always wide. Simply did not have his shooting boots on today, but kept going for it. Did have several good balls he played into and across the box, but no one was really ever close to finishing them. It was not a good day for Kane despite the rest he had midweek.
Lucas Moura – 7
Lucas Moura certainly splits opinion no matter what he does. Moura was looking to be lively like he was on Thursday evening but found the sledding against West Ham much tougher. Did well to pick up several fouls – which most could not on the day – and scored the headed goal that put Spurs back in the match. Still too wasteful and a bit poor with his decision making in the final third, which will always aggravate some fans. Mourinho, just loves his motor.
Erik Lamela – 6
Erik Lamela was the other person in the attacking quartet to start the match and considering his role in the team, he is getting rated in the attack. Lamela was bright at times in the first half registering Tottenham’s only shot on goal. Had a wonderful dribbling run from behind midfield into the box, only for Kane to fire wide and deny him the assist. Picked up a needless silly yellow, which may have been the impetuous for coming off at the half. With he and Moura both on the pitch, Spurs do not really have anyone on the right wing with Serge Aurier out. Coaching has to see this and do better.
Tottenham Midfield
Well Tottenham essentially rolled with a two-man midfield and got dominated in the center of the park for it. While Spurs controlled the lion share of possession, the 50/50 balls in the middle of the park – particularly in the first half – all went the way of West Ham. Lingard and Bowen space to run and operate as Spurs were overrun at times in the first half as Tomas Soucek was as good as predicted.
Simply put Tomas Soucek and Declan Rice physically manhandled Pierre Højbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele
Pierre Højbjerg – 5
Outside of spending and inordinate amount of time in the ear of Craig Pawson – which is not helping by the way – it is hard to say what contribution to the match the Dane brought. Pierre Højbjerg has not been good for over a month – nor anyone in the back of the midfield. Some changes in formation and shape have to be made as Spurs are losing badly in the most important part of the park when it matters most.
Tanguy Ndombele – 5
Like Pierre Højbjerg, Tanguy Ndombele completed the vast majority of his passes. However, like the Dane, the vast majority of the Frenchman’s passes were backwards, sideways, or extremely short. Ndombele likes to play with pressure on his back but that consistently cost Spurs possession in the first half as Ndombele jogged around the pitch. He was noticeably more active in the second half, but the damage had been done and scoring multiple goals against lines of 5 and 4 seemed unlikely. Cannot simply just give a half away.
Tottenham Defensive Ratings
Speaking of giving things away, that is essentially the modus operandi of the Tottenham Hotspur defense. If you give them enough chances, the mistake will come and the opponents will capitalize. Poor marking, communication, and desires all contributed to the goals on the day and continue to mare Spurs season.
Sergio Reguilón – 6
Sergio Reguilón was a surprise starter on the left for Tottenham after missing the better part of the last three weeks. There were times when Sergio Reguilón looked good and others when he was a bit off the pace – like a swing and a miss on a shot in the first half. Sergio Reguilón was plowed over on the first goal for West Ham – similar to a tackle by Højbjerg at midfield in the second half. The difference was the Dane’s in a non-scoring situation led to a yellow and for Soucek he got to celebrate the goal. The lack of a call there does not excuse the poor marking, but does let Reggie off the hook for not pressuring the crosser – Son we are now looking at you. Good to see him back, have to start wondering how many more games he has in a Spurs uniform with the buy-back clause.
Eric Dier – 4
Eric Dier did little right all day. He failed to communicate and attack the ball on the goal. He had an opportunity to shoot and was not even close. Continues to make baffling decisions with the ball in the back in terms of his passing and simply has proven again and again he is not a defender. Not athletic enough to really play in the back of the midfield either, Dier is not a starter for a top four side.
Davinson Sanchez -5
Davinson Sanchez makes his fair share of mental errors but he also gets a raw deal in the Tottenham set up. Whether paired with Toby Alderweireld – better than with Dier – or with Dier like today, Sanchez is the designated attacker of the ball. as the only athletic and big defender on the pitch, it is up to Sanchez to win in the air and run with the best player. This means Sanchez is often pulled out of position. He was far on the left during the first goal with Dier and Tanganga exposed and then was culpable in space on the second goal was he could not stop Lingard. Would likely be better next to a competent defender – like he was next to Jan Vertonghen – just not sure Spurs have one to set next to him.
Japhet Tanganga – 5
Japhet Tanganga got the ire of Eric Dier after the first goal but Dier did the young defender no favors without communicating or attacking the ball. Tanganga is a solid defender, but he is not a wing who is going to provide a lot of width and crosses. Frankly, if Spurs played a true back four with Tanganga as the right back or even right-sided center-half he would be fine. However, playing wing or as one of a back two is too much at this stage in Tanganga’s career. Was yanked at half-time and Doherty was better moving forward but did not help on the goal to start the half.
Hugo Lloris – 4
Hugo Lloris had zero collections on the day. He needed to have one and take the ball in the air and never allow Antonio the first shot. Sure he made the initial save, but Antonio was on his feet with the ball in the net before Lloris had even gotten back up. Taking two steps and punching the ball would have save Spurs bacon, instead, Tottenham again conceded cheaply. If you look across the way at Lucas Fabianski, the Polish keeper almost killed his defender Coufal to punch away a cross. He also came and claimed – without rebound – a low cross from Harry Kane outside of his six! That is what proactive goalkeeping is and seems to be something Hugo Lloris no longer knows how to do.
Substitute and Coaching Ratings
At least one substitute made some noise as Gareth Bale looked like he should have been on the pitch from the off. Whereas Dele Alli and Matt Doherty both left a lot to be desired.
Gareth Bale – 7
Bale was the real bright spot for Tottenham on the day. After a strong game midweek Bale was again lively in his 45 minutes Sunday. Bale had as many crosses – 7 – as Son had in the entire game to lead all players. Whether right footed at the end line or left footed changes of play, Bale was serving the ball up for Spurs. Was a bit unlucky to not score on a solid rocket that struck the crossbar. Looked to attack on the dribble and seems to be partnering well with Matt Doherty.
Matt Doherty – 6
Matt Doherty provided some of the offensive Japhet Tanganga did not, but not nearly enough. Doherty finds himself in wonderful positions with the ball, space, and time. What he cannot do is deliver a good cross to save a life. Whether it is his right foot or left foot every pass and hit of the ball looks like it just takes more effort than Doherty has to strike what is likely an under hit looper to no one. Did almost play Bale in but lacked the pace to reverse that idea. Doherty is another who simply is not good enough for what Spurs want to do.
Dele Alli – N/A
Dele is lucky he only played a few minutes and did not get a rating as a result as those few minutes were almost comical. Whether it is because he wants to stick it to the coach, does not care, or truly has lost it, Dele just kind of wandered about, hoping to get a call only getting one. Another example of how lost this team is.
José Mourinho – 3
This is starting to get ridiculous. The team says all the right things in the interviews – likely for fear of ending up in the doghouse – but the play on the pitch says something different. That first half was unacceptable on so many levels. Clearly the team did not believe in the set-up and line-up and it showed. The fact is José seems to be guessing at this point as he just shifts chairs around on the Titanic. The team is terrible with free kicks, lacks any real midfield presence and continues to make the same mistakes with the same people in and in front of goal.
While most of the team is simply not good enough players to be top four like we want, Mourinho is supposed to make them better. Clearly the system is not working and when you have Pierre Højbjerg, Davinson Sanchez, and Eric Dier as you deep playmaking three you are truly lost. At this point, his coaching and tactics have clearly regressed the team and the confidence and if something does not change soon, Spurs will finish in the bottom half and again trophy less.
This is not to say Mourinho needs to go, but he needs to do something different and quickly and if he cannot, he should do the right thing and step-down.